Ash Murrell – Ash Murrell Photography

An Interview with Young Entrepreneur Ash Murrell, owner of Ash Murrell Photography based in Belleville. ashmurrell.com

Describe your business.

Ash Murrell Photography is a commercial photography company specializing in Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Public (B2P) imagery. Helping clients reach new clients using cinematic story telling, we can get businesses to the market they desire.

How long have you been here?

I moved here with my immediate family, from France, over 16 years ago.

What brought you to the region?

Location really did play a part in where we wanted to stay. The central location between Toronto and Ottawa, the diversity of outdoor activities and local food made Quinte an easy choice.

What makes the Bay of Quinte region a good fit for your business?

There are so many great businesses that not only exist here but thrive here, which by extension creates opportunities for my company to help them grow. The people that run these businesses are passionate and have a contagious drive to make them the best they can be. B2B and B2P is prevalent here, which makes for a great environment to build a media company. In addition to that, the business owners are actively trying to grow and constantly working to improve the Bay of Quinte region. There is a pride and a sense of community that pervades this region. It’s a positive culture.

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs in the area?

Enjoy the process and design your business to be an extension of you. People here are authentic—they understand that at the core of any business is a dedicated person who wants to make something to help others. Learn to love the grind.

What surprised you about starting a business in a smaller community?

Honestly, the most surprising thing about this area and its community was how business savvy people are here. When I started up as a commercial photographer here, many people told me that there wasn’t enough happening to create such a business. Ignoring them was the best thing I did, as I quickly found a group of dedicated businesses who refused to let location affect them. We have businesses leading trends here.

Describe your perfect day off.

I love hanging out with my family at the beach, visiting the local farmers’ market, taking a trip to one of the amazing breweries and eating at one of the many bad-ass restaurants we have here.

What’s your secret to surviving winter?

I have to be honest: I am not a big fan of the cold. I spend those months prepping for the warmer times, photography goes indoors—usually—at that point, and I try to get up to date on any new marketing or client outreach. My kids make the cold fun between winter hikes and sledding, so I do get to experience some of the outdoorsy things!

What’s your favourite part of living in the BoQ?

The balance of work and play—it’s just so perfect here. I don’t have a two-hour commute in chaotic traffic; I can work a full day, and then get out to enjoy time on the lake or go for a hike with my family before dinner.